When Maury Povich‘s iconic catchphrase echoed out into the studio audience in late 2022, it marked the end of America’s longest running day-time talk shows.
For more than three decades, Povich enthralled and appalled audiences with his tabloid-brand of television, complete with his salacious slogan “you are/are not the father”.
It was Povich’s job to keep pace as the show’s guests let fly with gritty details of their relationship – the more sordid the better – as a studio audience watched on.
At a heightened point, Povich would reach for a sealed envelope.
Inside was the results of a paternity test, set to unleash anguish or joy of the guest. In some instances, the guests moved swiftly between each emotion.
Then, in September 2022, 83-year-old Povich opened the show’s last envelope.
It had been a wild ride for Povich, who started his career as a news journalist in his home state of Washington DC.
For Povich, storytelling was in his blood. His father, Shirley, was a sports journalist with The Washington Post.
Initially following in his father’s footsteps, Povich worked as a sportscaster for WTTG before moving on to co-host the stations daytime talk show Panorama.
Povich then made the switch to TV journalism, taking jobs in Chicago and LA where he shared anchor duties with his future wife, pioneering US journalist, Connie Chung.
“I was the second banana to Connie,” Povich told People in 2020.
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“Connie was the big anchor star at the CBS affiliate and I was her co-act before they cleaned house. Because Connie was the only person I actually knew in Los Angeles, I always said the way to get to Connie’s heart is first, she pities you, and then she can love you. She pitied the fact that I was fired.”
Povich and Chung went on to date, before tying the knot in 1984.
Two years later, in 1986, Povich moved to New York to host of the US version of A Current Affair. He stayed four years before seeking a new challenge.
“It’s just that over the last week or so, I began to think that it’ll soon be five years here. That’s 1300 shows. I was here when it was a baby,” he told the Associated Press in 1990.
“It has grown into an institution and will be a hit long after I’m gone. And so I thought maybe it’s time for the kid to leave the house – even though the kid is 51.”
It was then Povich brought the Maury Povich Show to life. Known simply as “Maury”, the show ran for 31 years over 3600 episodes.
When Povich called time on the show in 2022 he was the last one standing from his era.
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He had outlasted his 1980s and 1990s day-time rivals of Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Springer, Sally Jesse Raphael and Ricky Lakes, to name but a few.
“Since this show started in 1991, there are 75 daytime talk shows in the graveyard,” he said.
“That’s how difficult daytime talk is. And it gets more difficult every year because the audience is shrinking.”
Povich said he knew six years before the show ended that he wanted to retire. But his “NBCUniversal family” asked him to continue.
”Even though I told them I was ready for assisted living, out of loyalty to NBCUniversal and my more than 100 staff and crew members, Tracie Wilson and I agreed to one more deal,” he told Variety.
“I’m so proud of my relationship with NBCUniversal and all those who worked on the ‘Maury’ show but as I occasionally tell my guests on ‘Maury,’ ‘Enough, already'”
Yet, despite disappearing from TV screens, Povich’s legacy remained.
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In 2021, Lil Nas X and Povich collaborated on a fake episode of Maury that centres on the events of the US rapper’s music video, That’s What I Want.
If he ever needs a reminder about his decades on air, Povich only needs to step outside. Still to this day, fans out on the street repeat his famous catchphrase.
“I react very favourably because if you’re on television every day and nobody recognises you, you’re in trouble. No ratings,” he told Entertainment Tonight earlier this year.
“So, I’ve always been very generous with my time in public because I believe in that.”
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